Judith Allnatt

In 1914, George Farrell, a young English postman decides to join the war in the heat of the moment when he learns that his crush Miss Violet is already promised to someone else. When George and his comrades arrive in France, they are surprised that they are to fight at the front like professional soldiers.

George soon finds himself knee-deep in mud. The cold and wet is creeping into his bones. Reading about the deafening noise of exploding shells and the stench of decomposing bodies is almost unbearable and you'll start to understand that you can't imagine what it must have been like for millions of soldiers who fought this war.

While George fights at the front, his best friend Kitty is at home doing men's jobs and she really enjoys being able to do so. She knows what she wants but has to live a life restricted by society and class. While Kitty is the hard-working girl walking straight into a modern world, Miss Violet seems like a fading picture of a past era. She's like a princess in a castle waiting for Prince Charming to come and save her.

The plot switches between George's, Miss Violet's and Kitty's view. In the beginning, Miss Violet's plotline is most gripping, but that changes as soon as George joins the war. Even though it takes a bit to get going and you'll definitely need a sturdy stomach, The Moon Field is a truly rewarding read.